Flight Lieutenant Brittany Lovett – who served in Afghanistan – was the special guest speaker at St Patrick’s College’s Remembrance Day ceremony. Making it more special was the fact she is a former student, from the class of 2007. Flt Lt Lovett was required to go ‘beyond the wire’ as part of her duties, carrying weapons and 30 kilos of body armour, and told the students “nothing can truly prepare you for the terrors of warlike environments.” She related her stories of the brave and extraordinary personnel she had encountered, all of whom had insisted they were ordinary Aussies. “This is what we should reflect on,” she said, when reflecting on the Diggers. “We should never forget. “I am honoured to have followed in their footsteps and to serve this country.” The St Patrick’s College ceremony was one of many held in local schools this week, and included guest speakers such as Margaret Rixon from Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society (reading wartime diaries), and students who have researched their veteran ancestors. The beautifully-decorated event was overseen by history teacher Fran Musico Rullo, with keen students from her college history club. After the ceremony, Macarthur federal MP Mike Freelander joined with Flt Lt Lovett to plant an olive tree in the college’s Gallipoli Centenary Garden. The pupils of the Catholic girls school also laid wreaths for the Protestant war veterans who have memorial stones in the Congregationalist/Methodist cemetery next to St Patrick's College. Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic, Camden Mayor Peter Sidgreaves, and Camden’s Labor candidate Sally Quinnell were also inn attendance. The college also produced a commemorative booklet. “St Patrick's believes by teaching our girls the importance of commemoration, they will pass it on to the next generation and ensure that the price of peace is never taken for granted,” Mrs Musico Rullo said. The college’s History Club has a membership of nearly 100 students.

St Patrick's College Campbelltown conducts large Remembrance Day service

Teens pay tribute to our fallen: Photos

The pupils of the Catholic girls school lay wreaths for the Protestant wars veterans who have memorial stones in the Congregationalist/Methodist cemetery next to St Patrick's College

Flight Lt Brittany Lovett, a former student of the school, who was the special guest speaker.

The pupils of the Catholic girls school lay wreaths for the Protestant wars veterans who have memorial stones in the Congregationalist/Methodist cemetery next to St Patrick's College

Students speaking about WWI and those who served.

Students speaking about WWI and those who served.

Amelia Aguiar in the crowd. Last year she toured the battlefields of France as part the Premier’s 2017 Anzac Memorial Scholarship.

The Catafalque party, including at left, Mackenzie McEvoy-King, the great-great niece of Campbelltown fighter pilot William Lyttle King. Last month she was one of six NSW students to the historic battlegrounds in Europe, as part of the Premier’s Anzac Ambassadors Program.

Campbelltown fighter pilot William Lyttle King's flying helmet and goggles. After a month of heavy action went down with his plane in 1917. He survived, but with multiple injuries including bad cuts, a fractured arm and smashed teeth, and partial recovery took months.
The real tragedy was the deep post traumatic stress that followed.
The war veteran’s body was found on the railway tracks between Campbelltown and Leumeah stations in 1925 – a victim of WW1 seven years after it ended.

Flight Lieutenant Brittany Lovett – who served in Afghanistan – was the special guest speaker at St Patrick’s College’s Remembrance Day ceremony.

Making it more special was the fact she is a former student, from the class of 2007.

Flt Lt Lovett was required to go ‘beyond the wire’ as part of her duties, carrying weapons and 30 kilos of body armour, and told the students “nothing can truly prepare you for the terrors of warlike environments.”

She related her stories of the brave and extraordinary personnel she had encountered, all of whom had insisted they were ordinary Aussies.

“This is what we should reflect on,” she said, when reflecting on the Diggers.

“We should never forget.

“I am honoured to have followed in their footsteps and to serve this country.”

The St Patrick’s College ceremony was one of many held in local schools this week, and included guest speakers such as Margaret Rixon from Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society (reading wartime diaries), and students who have researched their veteran ancestors.

The beautifully-decorated event was overseen by history teacher Fran Musico Rullo, with keen students from her college history club.

After the ceremony, Macarthur federal MP Mike Freelander joined with Flt Lt Lovett to plant an olive tree in the college’s Gallipoli Centenary Garden.

The pupils of the Catholic girls school also laid wreaths for the Protestant war veterans who have memorial stones in the Congregationalist/Methodist cemetery next to St Patrick's College.

“St Patrick's believes by teaching our girls the importance of commemoration, they will pass it on to the next generation and ensure that the price of peace is never taken for granted,” Mrs Musico Rullo said.